New - looking for advise.

[apis mellifera]

I'm interested in building an MG42, but was a little curious about parts kits. Is there a recommended kit to buy or a supplier to steer clear of? Are the kits a complete FA parts set, apart from the receiver?

Many Thanks
Matt

[MGW LLC]

The Angola Armory 3 cut kits are the "Best" for rebuilding.

Unless the owner of the kit has done S/A Mods, YES....they will be F/A.


Good luck!

[apis mellifera]

I didn't see a parts kit listed on the Angola site, only individual parts.

[MGW LLC]

You've missed the boat to buy them from the vendors, sorry about that.

You have to go through the secondary market to buy them. Auctionarms and Gunbroker are your friend. :-P

[apis mellifera]

Why is that always my luck?!

I've actually never seen a kit that included the receiver pieces (only on GB). Most of the M53 kits I've seen appear to be complete less the back half of the receiver. Is this the case? I just don't want to buy a kit and find out it's missing pieces and that some other vendor has them complete. Is this a viable route (buying a kit and receiver half from separate parties) or is it better to wait for a kit w/ cut receiver included?

[tomcatshaas]

Why is that always my luck?!

I've actually never seen a kit that included the receiver pieces (only on GB). Most of the M53 kits I've seen appear to be complete less the back half of the receiver. Is this the case? I just don't want to buy a kit and find out it's missing pieces and that some other vendor has them complete. Is this a viable route (buying a kit and receiver half from separate parties) or is it better to wait for a kit w/ cut receiver included?

Welcome apis !

If you get one more post, you can enter the for sale section on this site. Nice kits with receiver sections do come up for sale here from time to time. Check it often and good luck with your search.

TC

[apis mellifera]

Thanks!

Hey, here's number five!

[propos]

Welcome apis. BTW, you don't have anything to do with bees, do you. Isn't a group of beehives called an apiary? Sorry just one of those idle thoughts I have once in a while.
In any case, if you can't find it here, you haven't looked hard enough.

[apis mellifera]

Yes it is and yes I do!

There are a few pictures at the link below, under "bees". I designed and conducted a research project using Honeybees. Strangely enough, I've lost the taste for honey. There are also a few pictures of my other interests, namely old cars and motorcycles, furniture building, old clocks... Too many irons in the fire!

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v307/dandomatic2/

[propos]

I take it you like Lugars or P08's. Nice collection of bees. Are they healthy. Seems to be rumors of lots of bees dying mysteriously. What kind of car is the bugeye. Long, long time ago I had an Austin Healey 100-6.
Enjoy reading all the posts on the site.

[maxposner]

Looked like a MGA to me, but I am usually wrong about everything.

[bolex]

I take it you like Lugars or P08's. Nice collection of bees. Are they healthy. Seems to be rumors of lots of bees dying mysteriously. What kind of car is the bugeye. Long, long time ago I had an Austin Healey 100-6.
Enjoy reading all the posts on the site.

The Bugeye is an Austin Healey Sprite late '50s. MG badged it under the Midget name in the '60s. Who doesn't like Lugars?

Back to MG42s, I am currently working on M53 using a Coldsteel 80% receiver. My recommendation is that if you are looking for the rifle to shoot then the Coldsteel or one of the other receivers would be the way to go. If you are looking for one to show than rewelding the de-milled parts is most likely the way to go.

Yes you can safely reweld the parts kit back together, but a new one piece (From stock to trunnion/cam) receiver is better strength wise by virture of being one piece (along the axis of operation). All welds have micro fractures and some have fractures, it is the nature of the beast. Failure of the weld is dependant on the stresses seen at the weld and fractures are stress risers that magnify the effect of the stress on the material.

[apis mellifera]

The Bugeye is in fact a MK1 Austin Healey Sprite. I have two (a '59 and '60), with plans to make one good one. I traded a model 1908 Colt for the brown one. The red car is a '58 MGA Coupe. I've had it since 1988, when I was 14. It was my first car and did not look like that when I got it. I got it in exchange for baling hay...a lot of hay. I also have an MGBGT and some Midgets. I've been racing and tinkering with British cars for a long time. I drove an MG Midget everyday in college too. The BMW is mine as well and I bought the Triumph for my wife. She's had no idea she wanted it, but it turns out she'd had her eye on a Bonneville since I was a young boy! The Lord has blessed me with a very patient wife, not to mention a fair share of stuff!

I did a lot of genetic selection and size manipulation with my bees as an attempt to control the parasite (Varroa destructor) causing the health problems. This winter is the first time I lost a colony. All the control colonies died while the experimental has survived without medication.

I love guns of all types, but specifically the guns of WWII. I also like early Colt automatics and early Winchester rifles. I'm nearly finished building a traditional flintlock (curly maple, 42" barrel etc) and have become interested in building guns from demilled kits. I've recently settled on the MG42 rather than the MG34 mainly for ease of construction, but also for aesthetics. If I can manage to obtain the necessary parts, I plan to shoot my MG42 and for a laugh, possibly take it deer hunting next year.

Thanks for the help so far.

[propos]

Good grief. Hunting with an SA42. Boy, that's a new one. BTW, when are you guys going to retire that old dinosaur Byrd?
I built a flintlock fusil de chasse. It's a .62 cal. smoothbore that is a blast to shoot.
I'm really interested in seeing how you guys build up these guns using a CS receiver. Should be an interesting proposition. I might consider building another SA42 using one of CS's receivers.

[dluch]

Building a SA '42, so it actually WORKS - reliably - is a major feat!

If you're new to all this, it's better to bite the bullet and buy a BRP - if you can afford it. If not, just keep dreaming & shift your desire to something else more PRACTICAL.

Best wishes

[bolex]

Building a SA '42, so it actually WORKS - reliably - is a major feat!

If you're new to all this, it's better to bite the bullet and buy a BRP - if you can afford it. If not, just keep dreaming & shift your desire to something else more PRACTICAL.

Best wishes

Its not just about the rifle, its about the journey! I enjoy building firearms over the years and the MG42 looks like a challenge.

[propos]

What's wrong with dreaming? Dreaming is the very beginning of something that you would like to do. I dreamt of owning an MG42 since I was a kid. I never bought one but when I found out that a semi could be built, the dream kicked back in. I bought a Dangola kit, HF Tig welder, learned how to weld, and had at it.
Now I have an operational SA42 in both .308 and 8mm. And some time this year, maybe my dream of having a 7.62x54R conversion will be realized. As I know it will.
If you want to build an SA42, have at it. Hell one of the guys here made a receiver from scratch. It won't be long before one of the guys has a working gun using a CS receiver. Now won't that be something.
Don't let anyone discourage you. Make the attempt. How many people said man could never fly. Seems like 2 guys had a dream that they could. So they did. Man has dreamed of going to the moon. Guess what? There's still an Americn flag on the surface of the moon today.
And besides, what could be more practical then an SA42. Go for it.

[dluch]

Nothing wrong with dreaming - in fact, that's best part of life.

For me, the reality is that after spending $thousand$ on tools, parts, bullets, accesories etc... I want to see RESULTS - in the form of an operational weapon. And nothing worse than investing time & money & aggravation & still not having something that SHOULD work.

Maybe, I'm not taletnted enuff or rich enuff, but I want to exert my resources for maximum results. I know my limitations - and for me, welding & tuning a '42 is beyond my technical reach. For this, I'd rather pay for someone who's experienced to do it for me.

But if you choose to do it (a '42 is NOT a beginners project!) & learn & win/lose along the way - power to you - wish you the best!

[propos]

First off, I'm not rich. Second, it didn't cost me thousands of dollars to build the damn thing. Third, I didn't know how to weld when I first started. But I learned and now I use that new skill for other projects. The bolt mod I choose not to do. I gave it to panancea to do. I had other things that I was concentrating on at the time.
What it all comes down to is attitude. If you are willing to let yourself be limited by yourself, fine. But I will not. I took the project knowing that whatever happened I would persevere and succeed. Which I did. And I feel that if I can do it so can others. I will not discourage anyone from building an SA42. There is enough information on this site so that one can make that decision for themselves. Apparently you have made yours. Fine. But let the other guys decide for themselves if they feel it is worth the effort, time, and money. In my opinion it is, judging from the comments of guys who have succeeded in building their SA42.
Remember, we're here to provide help and encouragement to those who choose to build their SA42.

[bolex]

And... People have done this already, it's not like we are going down and path never traveled before. It will work because there no reason it shouldn't.